Scottish Lib Dems storm to success in Conservative heartlands

Scottish Liberal Democrat Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today urged former Scottish Conservative voters to back his party after the Liberal Democrats defeated the Conservatives to secure a council by-election victory in rural Perthshire.

Alan Watt has been elected as the ward councillor for Strathallan and now joins the Liberal Democrat council group on Perth & Kinross Council. The seat had previously been held by the Scottish Conservatives.

Alan works as an area manager with an international supplier of agricultural machinery. He is well-known locally for chairing Aberuthven Ablaze, a volunteer group dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the local village environment, and for serving on the community council.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to see Scottish Liberal Democrats scoring an amazing by-election victory against the Conservatives in their heartlands of rural Perthshire. Alan is going to make a fantastic councillor, standing up for the people of Strathallan and championing the issues that matter to them.

“This brilliant result comes hot on the heels of our party overtaking the Scottish Conservatives at the last general election. I am meeting more and more people who once voted for the Scottish Conservatives but feel disenchanted with the party as it lurches towards ever-greater extremes.  

“People across Scotland are crying out for a change to the SNP, but it’s clear the Conservatives can’t deliver that. That’s why more and more people are turning to the Liberal Democrats to get the fresh start we desperately need.

“By backing the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you will get hard-working local champions who will put your priorities first. Only we have a plan to bring down NHS waiting lists, get a fair deal for carers, help struggling pensioners, lift up Scottish education and grow the economy.”  

Newly elected Cllr Alan Watt added:

“I am delighted to have been elected as the Liberal Democrat councillor for Strathallan, and I want to thank everyone who came out to help me deliver our positive message.

“Across the ward, people are doing really great things for our community, so this is a chance to work well and ensure we can get the best outcomes for the people of Strathallan.

“I want people to see that by backing the Liberal Democrats, you get someone who’ll fight for you and put the issues that matter at the very top of the agenda.”